Olaudah Equiano Grew up in Eastern Nigeria Father was a tribal leader in village Kidnapped by African slave traders at age 11 Family owned slaves too; constant fear of kidnapping and enslavement Enslaved first in Africa for approx. 7 months before taken to the coast and sold to New World slave traders First taken to Barbados, then to Virginia Purchased his freedom after 7 years in slavery Moved to England and became an active abolitionist

Olaudah Equiano The Middle Passage Two month voyage from African West Coast to North America Overcrowding Lack of food Harsh treatment Disease Despair Amistad—The Middle Passage

Slave Narratives Purpose in writing a slave narrative? To persuade the reader to join the cause for the abolition of slavery 6,000+ former slaves in North America and the Caribbean shared their stories150 published in books and pamphlets First published in England in 1700s Main form of literature by African Americans before the 20th century Other purposes? To show religious redemption To illustrate progress of people of African descent Equiano’s primary purpose was to inspire others to join the abolitionist movement, but he also wrote to show his religious redemption as a Christian.